English Heritage

The Department provides grant-in-aid to English Heritage which was set up in 1984 under the National Heritage Act 1983, to protect England's historic, architectural and archaeological heritage and to encourage people to understand and enjoy it.

English Heritage is the Government's statutory adviser on all matters concerning the conservation of England's historic built environment. It is the largest source of non-Lottery grant funding for historic buildings and ancient monuments, conservation areas, archaeology, cathedrals and churches. It is also responsible for the maintenance, repair and presentation of over 400 properties in public ownership, or guardianship.

Since its  merger with the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England on 1 April 1999, English Heritage is also responsible for compiling and maintaining the National Monuments Record as the national archive and information base of historic buildings and ancient monuments.

The National Monuments Record identifies, interprets, surveys and records sites and buildings of archaeological and architectural interest in England and its territorial waters, including the statutory recording of listed buildings. It is for use by individuals and bodies concerned with understanding, interpreting and managing the historic environment.

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A wide-ranging review of the Government's policies towards the historic environment was launched by Alan Howarth, the then Minister for the Arts, in February 2000. As a first stage, English Heritage was commissioned to consider a range of issues and produce a report for Government. English Heritage consulted widely, and its report Power of Place was published on 14 December 2000.

Power of Place played an important part in informing the Government's review, and the resulting policy statement The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future produced jointly by this Department and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, was published on 13 December 2001.

National Heritage Act 2002

The National Heritage Act 2002, took effect on 1 July 2002, broadens the powers of English Heritage in two ways. It allows English Heritage to:

• trade in overseas countries; and
• become involved in underwater archaeology in English territorial waters.

The Department has prepared a Regulatory Impact Assessment - (National Heritage Bill 2001) (PDF 44kb) which describes the effect of the Act's provisions.

The Department has conducted a Quinquennial Review of English Heritage, including an evaluation of its role and functions, and how those functions can best be carried out, and a review of the efficiency and effectiveness of how it delivers its services. The Stage One Report has now been published.

English Heritage Quinquennial Review Stage One Report PDF (276kb)